Mittwoch, 5. Jan 2011, 10:34
5. The Walkmen – Lisbon
The Walkmen were one of my discoveries of the year. I'd previously dismissed them as "that band that did the The Rat", a song which I love, but which I'd always assumed was by a band that couldn't top it. I was wrong. Lisbon (and You & Me before it) is a solid album by a band who've mastered their own brand of jangly rock music. Great lyrically, great musically, just great throughout!
4. Sharon Van Etten – Epic
Before December rolled around I thought I had my Top 5 of 2010 sorted. Then I heard 'Love More' by Sharon Van Etten on the All Songs Considered podcast and I was immediately compelled to seek out the album. Epic is a cathartic, rainy day of an album. Van Etten uses her music as a form of therapy (in the same way a lyricist like Mark Oliver Everett does) so these songs are mostly acoustic tales of heartbreak, bitterness, and regret. It's all fantastic, and at a sweet seven tracks it never outstays its welcome. But most impressive of all is 'Love More'. It's just one of those tracks that reaches down into my soul and makes me feel alive. So good.
3. Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid
An r 'n' b/hip hop album set in the future? First time I heard about The ArchAndroid I knew I had to seek it out. I'm a sucker for concept albums when they're done well. This sprawling, schizophrenic album is so ambitious for a debut it beggars belief. There's everything from psychedelic folk to r 'n' b ballads to hip hop on here. The downside of this is that it is a bit bloated and at almost 70 minutes it could certainly lose a track or two (eg. fuck off Kevin Barnes). Can't wait to see what she does next.
2. The National – High Violet
High Violet came very close to being my album of the year. Very, very close. I didn't think The National would be able to top Boxer and yet here they are again making some of the best songs of their career ('England' now being my favourite song by them). High Violet is a stunning album with evocative lyrics and restrained, broody tunes. It again cements the fact that The National are one of the best rock bands around, both lyrically and musically (Christ, just listen to the drummer).
1. Caribou – Swim
This is the one. With Swim, Caribou have abandoned the 60s psychedelic vibe of their earlier work and decided to venture into darker, electronic territory. I was caught off guard at first, wondering where it had gone wrong and if this meant I had lost one of my favourite current live bands for good. But like all great albums, Swim just grew and grew on me until I was playing it at every available opportunity.
Taking his cues from house and trance, Dan Snaith has crafted an album which borrows from the old to create something undeniably new. This is how dance music should sound. I want songs which make me uncontrollably nod my head like 'Bowls', or stand up and stare to the heavens like 'Sun'. This is what I want playing in clubs. Now, please.
Honourable mentions:
Thee Oh Sees - Warm Slime
Glasser - Ring
Baths - Cerulean
Hot Chip - One Life Stand
Spoon - Transference
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here